Premier League legend Olivier Giroud is confident that he will take home the ultimate prize in U.S. soccer in his first season at LAFC.

Giroud confessed that his desire remains stronger than ever at 38 to win silverware and achieve success after a momentous career, while pushing his body to the limits.

The French all time goal scorer revealed that Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimović aided his mentality in playing on as he aged, while adapting his mind. Speaking at opening night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the striker expressed his confidence in LAFC wining the MLS Trophy.

Giroud’s side picked up the U.S. Open cup just a month ago and he said: “We’ve played two finals. We lost the first one, but I was so glad to bring this first U.S. Open cup for the club with the boys.

“We did well, and now we are focused on the playoffs and we have big expectations with what we are going to face. “

Giroud shook any suggestion his U.S. move was cash motivated as acknowledged “he has made enough money”, but instead is about coming first and the buzz of the game.

“What keeps me going is just my motivation to play as a competitor, to always have this hungriness, if I can say, to win trophies, that feeling, that adrenaline you get playing football, scoring goals, winning trophies,” he added:

“I am not going to have it after. Maybe it’s going to be different after the career. So I really enjoy as much as I can and I make the most of it – like meeting great people here in LA is an amazing experience for me, for my family, and I want be also part of this project and to win with this club.”

Giroud revealed that Swedish friend and ex AC Milan fellow star Ibrahimovic, who played for LA Galaxy, has helped focus on mindset on playing for many more seasons.

Olivier Giroud in action for Los Angeles FC ( 

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“It’s just about determination, motivation, how much you can push yourself if your body allows you. I was talking about that with Zlatan back in the days in Milan, and it’s all about your mind and how much you want to go for it.

“We are passionate about this sport and we, I mean, I believe in another level, another sport – if you ask the question to LeBron James, he would say the same. Maybe because he loves the game and as long as his body will allow him to play, I think it will carry on. That’s as simple as that. “

Giroud has found transitioning from Europe to the U.S. easy, adding: “I didn’t know the boys, but Hugo [Lloris] just told me a lot of nice things about the club, about the squad.

“So I was not very surprised. But it’s always nice to receive a warm welcome from the boys and from the fans, everybody at the club.

“When I was young, basically it was not about winning trophies. I was dreaming about that obviously, but it was just about playing maybe one day for my country, for one time, playing at the best level in France, maybe in Premier League would’ve been amazing.

“If you would’ve told me that before at the beginning of my career, I wouldn’t expect, I wouldn’t believe you and yeah, my career has surpassed expectations.”

Olivier Giroud after helping France win the World Cup ( 

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That said, he has one more ambition, which he cannot be part of. The ex-Arsenal star, who won three FA Cups and Community Shield titles for the reds, believes the Gunners can win the Premier League despite their tricky campaign start.

Asked where Arsenal will finish, he replied: “Hopefully top of the league. Yeah, hopefully. Yeah, I played for Chelsea also, so I love both teams, both clubs, amazing people there and fans also. But yeah, I mean, our Arsenal is doing well since a few years and they deserve to win something soon. So yeah, we’ll cheer up for them. “

Giroud joined Hollywood stars and sports stars for the Clippers’ very first basketball game at the team’s new home in Inglewood. VIPs included Ellen Pompeo, Geri Halliwell, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Dewan, Luke Wilson, Machine Gun Kelly, Owen Wilson, Pete Davidson and Tom Arnold,

LAFC play Seattle Sounders at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, California on Sunday, November 23, at 10:30 pm ET. The game will air on Apple TV.